In the upcoming NBA All-Star Game, Mike Conley will be replacing Devin Booker (sprained knee) on Team Durant. It’s ironic that Devin Booker is injured, as he was replacing the injured Anthony Davis in the All-Star Game, and now he is injured as well. Conley is averaging 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on 44.4% shooting from the field this season. He is also shooting 42% from three, which may explain why Conley is replacing Booker in the three-point contest as well. Conley has averaged 37.8% from three throughout his career, but unfortunately, he’s going up against the likes of Steph Curry, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Zach Lavine, and Donovan Mitchell.
Adam Silver himself is the one who put Conley in the All-Star Game and three-point contest, which is well deserved. Conley has been an incredible player throughout his career, but has never been named an All-Star. To do so in his 14th season is record breaking, as no other NBA player has been selected to his first All-Star appearance in his 14th season. Vlade Divac, Tyson Chandler, and Kyle Korver all made their first All-Star appearances in their 12th season.
Conley will star with Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Zach Lavine, Donovan Mitchell, Julius Randle, Nikola Vucevic, and Zion Williamson on Team Durant. On Team Lebron lies Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Lebron James himself, the Greek Freak, Nikola Jokic, Jaylen Brown, Paul George, Rudy Gobert, Damian Lillard, Domantas Sabonis, Ben Simmons, and Chris Paul.
Mike Conley is the third player on the Utah Jazz to be selected for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, making the Jazz one of two teams with three of their players on the All-Star roster. A couple of teams have two players (counting injured players) selected for the All-Star game, such as the Phoenix Suns with Chris Paul and Devin Booker, the Los Angeles Lakers with Lebron James and Anthony Davis, the Celtics with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the 76ers with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and the Clippers with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The only other team with three All-Stars on its roster is the Brooklyn Nets, with KD, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.
There may be some resentment among the All-Star captains towards Utah, as the Jazz hold the best record in the league at the break, going 27-9. Lebron and his Lakers carry a 24-13 record, and so do Durant and the Nets. Is it a coincidence that two of the Jazz All-Stars who were in the All-Star draft were picked last? There’s no way to know for sure, (unless you ask James and Durant) but I think not.
Let me know in the comments below if you think there’s some jealousy among Lebron and KD, don’t forget to follow the NBA Blog by entering your email address in the follow bar so you never miss another blog, and as always, have an awesome day!
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Yeah sounds like jealousy to me. However I am happy for Mike Conley, to gain this recognition after 14 years in the league proves that “All good things come to those who wait”. There will always be players and/or coaches who feel that some other player should have been selected to replace Devin Booker. I am sure that the Celtics, Lakers, Suns, and Clippers, all feel that another one of their own players should have been selected and deserves to play on one of the All-Star teams. The fact that the Jazz has the best record in the league at 27-9, probably irritates some players (especially one named LeBron James), but obviously based on their record, the Jazz deserves to have three players participate in this game. Again I am happy for Conley and I feel Team Durant will win this game.
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